Portland Bans Cars on Alberta During Last Thursday

The City of Portland hasn't done this yet, but didn't it feel good to read that?

Apparently, some people feel so strongly about it that they are actively parking these cars on the street to make it happen. Personally, I do think it is past time for this to happen. The sidewalks are just no enough room for the art and thousands of viewers visiting the street. I am sure that the congestion on the sidewalks cause many families with small children to not attend.

Jonathan Maus at Bike Portland has the full run-down on this great idea. Can we donate funds to these people to get more cars and pay for their towing fines? Can anyone tell me a reason why we shouldn't support the closing of this street to cars during Last Thursday?

5 Responses to Portland Bans Cars on Alberta During Last Thursday

Someone mentioned on the shift list that it would be nice to set up a temporary fund to pay for the towing/ticket costs that these modern day Robbin Hoodists racked up liberating OUR streets. I think it’s a great idea.

let your voice be heard at the city… planners have proposed this idea but have been shot down; not enough public support the decisionmakers say. the way this city is run right now, you need a lot of vocal public support b/f the multiple cooks in the kitchen will approve any visionary idea.

Yeah, zup with that? They really should ban the cars on Alberta during Last Thursday. Other cities are smart enough to do it (dare I say progressive enough) when festival events happen. Why can’t Portland get on the ball? Is there a petition that needs signed? A visit to the mayor’s office? What do we need to do to get it done.

Last time I went (which was only last week) the bus actually detoured around Alberta for the length of the street fair.

With Sam in office don’t you think he’d be all for it? It isn’t even like Alberta is an MLK, Grand, or Broadway. Just a little two lane street.

Emily of “The Porch” here. It’s because of current city policies pertaining to trimet bus routes. any city street can be closed down for a “block party” or street fair for a small application fee, UNLESS it is on a bus route. The Alberta Art Hop was able to lobby to close the streets because they brought in combustible media (who did the work pro bono btw) to manage the event. In order to cover the costs of lobbying for the street closures and getting the bus routes moved (and porta potties) they HAD to charge for booth space. And they only barely broke even. The costs of getting traffic stopped on Alberta (as far as the city’s current policy stands) for Last Thursday would completely change Last Thursday- in other words no free booth space. At least thats the current model. I am sure there are other resources out there to change the situation, I just don’t know what they are.

My only concern about closing the street for Last Thursday is that I’d hate to see the city impose regulations on vendors as they do in the Pearl district for First Thursday, ie artist/vendor fees…etc. So long as the neighborhood lemonade stand and the kid selling mediocre jokes for 10 cents are still able to participate, then I’d love to see the street be closed.